MXPE Weekly Essentials

Mexico’s big energy reforms explained, happiness champions, bolstering Mexican spies, and other highlights in Mexican politics, policy, and markets from the past week.

It is the end of an era. The slow evolution of Mexico’s energy sector from the 1990’s, culminating in the Energy Reform of 2013, have been undone by the Sheinbaum administration. Opponents claim that nationalism and an aversion to the private sector are behind these counter-reforms. While that may well be the case among some sectors of the State, a far more pragmatic logic underpins Mexico’s oil, gas, and electricity transformation.

Eight laws were created and two others modified to bring into existence the government’s vision for the energy sector. It prioritises security over profits. When seen through this lens may unconnected changes begin to come together: